Friday, March 11, 2005

How to Identify a Stroke

How to Identify a StrokeNote from a friend: I wish I knew this several years ago when a friend was having a stroke at a clubhouse function and I didn't recognize it; just that something was wrong and did get a resident doctor in the hall and made other people aware, but unfortunately her husband listened to her and didn't get her to the hospital for a couple hours.Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: *Ask the individual to smile. *Ask him or her to raise both arms. *Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a Group Of non-Medical Volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people you can bet that at least one life will be saved. Tell as many people as possible about this. It could save their lives! BE A FRIEND AND SEND THIS ARTICLE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE.